Tyrone Benskin Tyrone Benskin

 

Tyrone Benskin (actra, caea, uda/s)

Tyrone Benskin has been a significant presence in theatre, film, television and music. He has been a part of the Canadian and international cultural landscape for over 25 years.  His theatre credits include appearances on such celebrated stages as the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, the National Arts Centre and the Centaur Theatre here in Montreal. His many acclaimed performances include Mr. M in the South African play “My Children My Africa” and the 71 year old Nelson Williams Johns in the Black Theatre Workshop/Centaur productions of “Wade in the Water”.

His over 70 film and television credits include co-starring with Tori Spelling in the CTV/Lifetime TV movie “Mind over Murder”, “The Wool Cap” and the civil rights drama “Deacons for Defence” opposite Forrest Whitaker and the late Mr. Ossie Davis. Mr. Benskin can also be seen in the NBC mini-series 10.5: Apocalypse and as Karl Lubinsky in the hit sci-fi series “Charlie Jade” which aired on the CHUM network here in Canada and a number of countries around the world including South Africa, France and Japan. Feature films include “Jack Paradise” and the blockbuster “Frank Miller’s 300”.

His voice is recognizable from both commercials and animation having played such characters as Kobalt in “Flash Gordon” and Rousso in the muppet style pre-school series “Whimzie’s House”. He is a published songwriter and composer; a director and writer.

Mr. Benskin served as Artistic Director of Black Theatre Workshop, Canada’s oldest Black theatre company for several terms, as well as President of the Board of Creations Etc…, a youth arts and outreach organization along with being a National and Executive Councillor for ACTRA, Canada’s national film and television actors union

Elected to Parliament in the diverse riding of Jeanne le Ber on January 30, 2011 Mr. Benskin was subsequently appointed by the Honourable Jack Layton as the Official Opposition Critic for Canadian Heritage.